Like hundreds of thousands of people across the country, I yesterday attended a Remembrance Sunday ceremony to honour the millions - including my own grandfather - who laid down their lives to defend our nation. The Merchant Navy's tribute at Cathays Park is shown above.
However, while politicians lined up to lay wreaths to commemorate the soldiers, sailors and aircrews that fought past battles, it remains a scandal that the UK Government continues to treat our current armed forces so shabbily.
Only last week, senior military chiefs warned that Britain's armed forces were over-stretched and under-funded, and that this would have a significant impact on their ability to recruit and retain personnel.
This followed a report from the independent think-tank Demos which indicated that the military covenant - which guarantees troops fair treatment in return for forgoing other rights - is in pieces and that there is no longer fair treatment for troops who go into battle under Government orders.
For example, various reports have shown that military accommodation is often sub-standard, with families having to live in poorly maintained homes whilst their husbands and fathers are away serving this country. Even though a 25 per cent council tax rebate was belatedly introduced for serving troops, this must be put in the context of convicts serving a prison sentence actually being exempt from paying all council taxes.
Finally, can you believe that soldiers have to take out insurance policies at an average cost of around £1000 per annum to cover inadequate government compensation if they are injured on the frontline? Indeed, the lack of fair play by this government regarding injured troops was highlighted earlier this year when a soldier who lost both legs in Afghanistan was offered £152,150 of compensation as compared to the award of £484,000 given to a RAF typist for a repetitive strain injury to her hand.
Whether you agree or not with the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, our armed forces should be treated properly for putting their lives on the line. When our troops are risking lives and limbs as a result of Government policy, why on earth does the Royal British Legion have to set up a new campaign – ‘Broken Covenant’ – to boost medical care, improve coroners' inquests for deceased service personnel, and provide better compensation for those who suffer multiple injuries?
Surely these are roles for the UK Government, especially in caring for those who have left the service injured or wounded. Given that the Ministry of defence actually has more civil servants than soldiers on its books, it shouldn’t be beyond ministers to divert some of this administrative overhead to support our serving troops.
As the famous words from the poem “The Fallen” states,
"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them".
Surely, it is time for the government to heed these words in the context of those who are currently serving, as well as those who have laid down their lives for freedom and liberty, and ensure that our military personnel get the full support of this nation.
They deserve no less.
However, while politicians lined up to lay wreaths to commemorate the soldiers, sailors and aircrews that fought past battles, it remains a scandal that the UK Government continues to treat our current armed forces so shabbily.
Only last week, senior military chiefs warned that Britain's armed forces were over-stretched and under-funded, and that this would have a significant impact on their ability to recruit and retain personnel.
This followed a report from the independent think-tank Demos which indicated that the military covenant - which guarantees troops fair treatment in return for forgoing other rights - is in pieces and that there is no longer fair treatment for troops who go into battle under Government orders.
For example, various reports have shown that military accommodation is often sub-standard, with families having to live in poorly maintained homes whilst their husbands and fathers are away serving this country. Even though a 25 per cent council tax rebate was belatedly introduced for serving troops, this must be put in the context of convicts serving a prison sentence actually being exempt from paying all council taxes.
Finally, can you believe that soldiers have to take out insurance policies at an average cost of around £1000 per annum to cover inadequate government compensation if they are injured on the frontline? Indeed, the lack of fair play by this government regarding injured troops was highlighted earlier this year when a soldier who lost both legs in Afghanistan was offered £152,150 of compensation as compared to the award of £484,000 given to a RAF typist for a repetitive strain injury to her hand.
Whether you agree or not with the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, our armed forces should be treated properly for putting their lives on the line. When our troops are risking lives and limbs as a result of Government policy, why on earth does the Royal British Legion have to set up a new campaign – ‘Broken Covenant’ – to boost medical care, improve coroners' inquests for deceased service personnel, and provide better compensation for those who suffer multiple injuries?
Surely these are roles for the UK Government, especially in caring for those who have left the service injured or wounded. Given that the Ministry of defence actually has more civil servants than soldiers on its books, it shouldn’t be beyond ministers to divert some of this administrative overhead to support our serving troops.
As the famous words from the poem “The Fallen” states,
"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them".
Surely, it is time for the government to heed these words in the context of those who are currently serving, as well as those who have laid down their lives for freedom and liberty, and ensure that our military personnel get the full support of this nation.
They deserve no less.
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